tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15131028807962156482017-09-18T10:58:24.133-07:00Share. Inspire. Encourage.With the mentor, advancing in the spirit of "many in body, one in mind"shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-50197415324174795672016-07-21T03:54:00.001-07:002016-07-21T03:54:29.390-07:00Faith is the Key to Eternal Happiness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div>Daimoku is like light; as the Daishonin says, "a lantern lighting up a place that has been dark for a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years." Similarly, the moment we offer prayers based on daimoku, the darkness in our lives vanishes. This is the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect. At that very instant, in the depths of our lives our prayer has been answered.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The inherent cause of a deep prayer simultaneously produces a latent effect. While it takes time for this effect to become manifest, in the depths of our lives our prayers are immediately realised. So at that moment light shines forth. The lotus (renge), in blooming and seeding at the same time, illustrates this principle of simultaneity of cause and effect.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore it is important that we offer prayers with great confidence. The powers of the Buddha and the Law are activated in direct proportion to the strenght of our faith and practice. Strong faith is like a high voltage - it turns on a brilliant light in our lives.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Prayers are invisible, but if we pray steadfastly they will in time definitely effect clear results in our lives and surroundings.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Excerpt from Gosho lecture by Dr Daisaku Ikeda on the Gosho 'The One Essential Phrase.'</i></div><div><br /></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-54619126533674917282016-06-08T04:52:00.001-07:002016-06-08T06:59:06.846-07:00Richard Causton's Channel on YouTube! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSsGUro7FxM" width="560"></iframe><br />To access rest of the videos, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCUCr0QuC4lvgzAQ5DjlfCQ" target="_blank">this channel </a><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am very excited to feature the official YouTube channel which contains Richard Causton lectures on Buddhist concepts and Gosho. This channel contains lectures on basics such as Nam myoho renge kyo, Gongyo, and Gohonzon. It also contains Gosho lectures on 'Letter to the brothers' and 'Rissho Ankoku Ron."</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Richard Causton (17 February 1920 – 13 January 1995) was a British author, businessman, and the first chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soka_Gakkai_International">Soka Gakkai International</a> in the UK (SGI-UK).&nbsp;</span>He has also written The Buddha in Daily Life, one of the my favorite books ever. It is one of the best books to help you understand and apply Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. <br />Sincerest thanks to those pioneering SGI-UK members who have made audio cassette copy recordings of his lectures, which are the sources for the uploads on this channel. They have kept these recordings all their lives, testimony to the incredible encouragement and inspiration deriving from Mr Causton’s lectures and his incredible ability to connect to audiences all around the UK.</div><div><br />You can subscribe to this channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCUCr0QuC4lvgzAQ5DjlfCQ</div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-67205813130494694872016-05-29T00:24:00.000-07:002016-05-29T00:24:08.195-07:00Choosing to Honor and Love Myself - A Golden Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The following is an experience from the World Tribune, Nov 5, 1999 by Amy Schor Ferris. This experience has truly encouraged me time and again and I continue to read it over and over again when faced with any kind of a deadlock.<br />----<br /><br />"Even though you chant and believe in Myoho-renge-kyo, if you think the Law is outside yourself, you are embracing not the Mystic Law but some inferior teaching" (Major Writings, Vol 1, p-3)<br />For most of my life, feelings of low self-worth and self-doubt have plagued me - not feeling good enough, caring too much what others think, wanting to be accepted. I think many people, artists in particular, tend to suffer from these issues. Having dropped out of High School when I was 15, I never went to college, and never took any courses in writing. At 19, I learned of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism from a friend. As I began to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, my desire to write emerged. That was 25 years ago, and I have fulfilled my dream. I have everything I ever wanted. All the externals - a great husband, a great career, great friends, tremendous financial fortune. What I never had was confidence in myself. I had mistaken my determination to win for feelings of self-worth, and about a year ago I had to face that full force.<br /><br />I was in Los Angeles where I had been fired from a project. I had been hired to write a film and after handing in the second draft, I was informed that the producers were going to hire someone else to do the remaining draft, I was devastated. I had been working nonstop as a screenwriter for years, and while I had seen projects fall to the wayside, I had never been fired. I was alone in my hotel room and the tears were pouring out of me, along with all the feelings of not being good enough, of not being wanted, and deep feelings of rejection. It took me hours to finally do Gongyo.<br /><br />My fortune is that I have always sought out guidance when I was suffering, I called a senior in faith, someone I respect and trust deeply. I was encouraged to chant to manifest my Buddhahood, that I needed to appreciate and love my own life. If I merely continued to suffer from self-doubt, that in and of itself was slander. This was a turning pointin having faith in MYSELF. He hasked me what kind of writer I wanted to be - someone who is swayed by the environment or someone who would have an amazing impact on it.<br /><br />I have been chanting for close to 25 years and just assumed that because I had been practicing for so long, I would be protected from my own internal demons. Even though doubts would arise, because I was working consistently, I managed to keep them pushed down. I had incredible faith in the Gohonzon - wasn't that enough?<br /><br />I returned home from L.A., and for a few days I wallowed in the mud. I felt so defeated, and so powerless. Finally I decided to take this guidance to heart. I started chanting to manifest my Buddhahood. That's when the floodgates opened. The more I chanted to manifest my Buddhahood, the worse I felt. Every bit of negativity that I felt about myself poured out.<br />To my relief, I was offered an opportunity to write a movie - I had chanted to manifest my Buddhahood and I got a benefit. Not a project I was overjoyed about, but it certainly eased the pain of having been fired. I felt wanted.<br /><br />Living in the woods in Pennsylvania, I have come to depend on and deeply appreciate my friends in the SGI and on the publications, the World Tribune and Living Buddhism. The minute I receive them, I read them cover to cover. In Living Buddhism, I read "Dialogue on the Lotus Sutra," which is all about changing our fundamental life condition. This particular dialogue I read was about the world of Anger. SGI President Ikeda said the world of Anger is the state of trying to win over others rather than ourselves, that anger was filled with desperation. He went on to say "that nothing was more powerful than joy, and that joy was a manifestation of Buddhahood." Joy was not what I was feeling when I chanted to manifest my Buddhahood.<br /><br />Within 15 minutes of reading this article, I received a phone call from Randy, the executive from Universal who had hired me to write this other project. He had a movie, Funny Valentines, in which the script had to be rewritten within two weeks. Normally, when you're hired to do a page-one rewrite, you usually get at least six weeks.<br />Although I loved the story, the problem was that it needed a tremendous amount of work in order for it to become a full-length film. It seemed utterly impossible. I was going out of the country. My husband's film was at the Cannes Fim Festival and I would not be able to write while I was gone.<br />I chanted to have the wisdom to know what to do. I decided to do this project, because I felt it was tremendously important. I promised Randy that he would have a script within two weeks.<br />While in Paris, every morning and evening I chanted with tremendous appreciation, and to write the best script possible. Toward the end of the trip, an overwhelming feeling of self doubt emerged. I thought, "I can't write this, who am I kidding?" I was going to call Randy from Paris and tell him that he should hire someone else, that I couldn't do it.<br /><br />Fortunately, I always carry with me copies of the World Tribune and Living Buddhism. After doing evening Gongyo, I picked up Living Buddhism, the very same one I had read previously. I reread the piece on "Dialogue on the Lotus Sutra." This time I felt as if President Ikeda was speaking directly to me. I had this incredible realization that whenever I have a problem of a desire, I chant out of desperation, in a state of fear. Just as our environment reflects our life condition, the life condition with which we pray becomes manifest in the result. I realized how frightened I was of being happy, genuinely happy. To me, feeling happy, feeling joy meant I didn't need anyone to make me feel good about myself, which somehow I equated with being alone. I was afraid that if I was happy, I wouldn't be needed. So, of course, I didn't dare feel good about myself.<br /><br />In the article, President Ikeda talks about fundamental darkness. He says that human revolution is a constant battle between the lower worlds and Buddhahood, and that that battle determines whether we win or lose. I decided that I needed to seriously chant to manifest my Buddhahood, right there in Paris. I sat down and with every bone in my body, I changed.<br /><br />A feeling of greatness, a deep feeling of absolute confidence, that had nothing to do with anyone or anything in my environment, emerged. I felt a sense of freedom that took my breath away. I promised myself I would never slander my life again, to believe in myself, and to have faith int he power of my life. I was selling myself short and the environment was reflecting that completely. I promised myself that I would bring into my life the fortune which matched a joyous life-condition.<br />Having returned from Paris, I started to write the screenplay. Every morning and evening, I chanted with absolute confidence in myself, in my Buddhahood. The joy I felt writing this script was indescribable. I had written it in four days. The director, Randy, and another executive called and told me that the script was exceptional; they couldn't believe what I had accomplished in such a short period of time. The movie was green lit that afternoon. I had won over myself, over the doubt, self-slander, and lack of self-worth.<br /><br />While Funny Valentines was being shot, I started a project that I had been hired to do previously. I wrote one draft and everyone loved it but me. I couldn't help thinking that I had taken the job out of fear, out of desperation. I realized that being a writer, being an artist, I had to be true to myself, to create from my heart. I had spent 12 years desperately trying to please the people who had hired me, and now I knew that I had to please myself first and foremost. Because I had transformed my fundamental life condition, and was new chanting with appreciation and confidence, the most incredible thing happened. I was told that the studio didn't want to make this movie any longer, but they were going to pay me for the remaining drafts that were left on my contract. This was a manifestation of my life condition. In 'On Attaining Buddhahood,' the Daishonin says, "If the minds of the people are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land." (Major writings)<br /><br />In the 25 years that I have practiced, my life has changed in ways that are extraordinary to me. I have experienced a profound change of fortune based on a fierce determination to see actual proof of the power of the Gohonzon. I can say that evaery single prayer has been answered.<br />What started off as an experience that showed me what little self-confidence I had, has become the very experience I needed to transform my life, to believe in my own Buddhahood. Now I am determined to create from that life-condition. My roots are in writing books, and I subsequently finished my second Novel, A Greater Goode, another manifestation of my Buddhahood.<br />When doubts arise - and they do - I choose to trust the greatness I feel inside myself. I choose to trust the power inside my life. I choose to trust that I, with all my imperfections, will have an impact on this world as a bodhisattva. When I say that I truly love and honor the Gohonzon, I am also saying that I love and honor myself.<br /><div><br /></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-16075021162800077912016-05-23T20:40:00.003-07:002016-05-23T20:40:34.367-07:00Nikee's Sublime Experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The following experience is of a&nbsp;very dear friend of mine. I have personally seen her journey in faith and it makes me very happy to share her experience here today. Thank you Nikee for encouraging us all. </i></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hi. My name is Nikee Sandhu and I have been practicing this life transforming philosophy for the past 15 years. From a person who was so close to death, I have come a long way. I used to suffer from depression which I was able to overcome by practicing the Law. I have deep joy and gratitude in my life for being alive and able to strive alongside my living mentor, Dr. Daisaku Ikeda. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last one year has been a very turbulent time in my life, full of painful challenges. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have been working as a kindergarten teacher for the past 8 years and have always dreamt of expanding my career as one. Last year in July 2015, I had a major victory where I was able to get a wonderful job with an NGO which directly works with the government and children to ensure better civic amenities in the city. &nbsp;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my first projects was to ensure tie ups for my workplace with 9 schools in Ludhiana within 10 days. This was quite a stiff target and involved approaching the principals of the schools directly and convincing them to tie up with my institution. Taking the challenge head on, I began my mornings with an invigorating Gongyo and chanted earnest daimoku, with a desire work on the behalf of my mentor as his extension. I did not have any experience in this field and made many mistakes but I was able to bounce back quickly and move ahead. Many times my meetings began with the other person giving me a cold shoulder and treating me inconsiderately. However I was able to smile through each meeting and soldier on, taking inspiration from the story of Bodhisattva Never Disparaging. As a result I was able to turn these interactions around into a warm and compassionate dialogue. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m happy to share that I was able to sign up with 9 schools within 10 days with my company fully applauding my efforts. Moreover, my company shared in the employee database that "Nikee is a person who truly believes she can make a difference in this world and her mentor in life is Dr Daisaku Ikeda.” On seeing this my joy knew no bounds. It was me, the disciple responding to the mentor. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I had a chance to catch my breath, some very ugly karma emerged in my long standing relationship of 10 years. Suffices to say, I faced a situation where I felt completely betrayed by my partner. Having had immense confidence in this relationship, I could not believe this was happening to me. My life fell apart and once again I had to deal with acute depression. I would not come out of my room, I would not talk to anyone. I had severe panic attacks because of which I was rushed to the hospital. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somehow crawling through it all, I chanted every day. While I prayed to be alive and work for Kosen Rufu, my legs would become numb. At other times, parts of my face and hands used to become numb and my body used to tremble. I developed insomnia and was unable to sleep. I would stare at the ceiling and chant in my heart and eventually fall asleep. There were days when I used to sleep the entire day and night because of the lack of sleep I went through due to depression. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My work suffered too. It required me to be very hands on and take classes in 10 schools in Ludhiana where as I could not stand or breathe or even walk properly. Somehow I persevered, holding on to the determination to represent Sensei at work. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following 8 extremely painful months, I made a fresh determination during this year’s March campaign to travel throughout our General Area to respond to my mentor. I am happy to report that I was able to visit our entire general area which comprises of 6 cities despite my inconsistent health. Through this activity, I was really able to experience that the more I worked for the Law un-begrudgingly, the more change I felt in my body and mind. I took guidance and was told by my seniors that it's better to be betrayed then to betray and because I had made causes in the realm of faith, I will experience the blessings of the Lotus Sutra without fail. This further gave me great hope and encouragement. Slowly my anxiety started to fall away as I began experiencing a joy that was independent of my situation. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My most recent victory came the form of another challenge when I had to travel to Banglore for a mandatory official training. Due to my poor health and acute fear of flying, this situation made me very agitated. Since I was on anti-depressants my legs used to shiver. I would pray earnestly to use my legs for kosen rufu and mystically, the shivering would fade away. I reached Bangalore full of joy and hope. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mornings used to start at 5 AM and end at 2 AM and from a person who used to sleep the day away due to sickness, not only was I able to muster energy to carry me through the day, but also I made new friends and had a dialogue with 5 people including my boss. I was able to take a class and give a presentation based on the training I had received in BSG. On the last day of the training I was asked to make a last minute presentation in front of the entire team and my boss. I chanted daimoku in my heart and went on stage and began with an enthusiastic ‘’Good morning everyone!!” just like we do in our BSG meetings. My own confidence took my breath away. It was as if it was not me but a disciple who is responding to the mentor. Everyone applauded my efforts&nbsp;and I knew then that I had changed something deep within my life. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After coming back to Ludhiana, a new Nikee emerged. I began getting up early, making quality time for my family, and going out with friends. My Gongyo transformed from a weak one to a lion’s roar. The passion I had lost for my work was revived. A deep desire to learn how to drive a car for the sake of Kosen Rufu was realized and I was able to overcome my fear of driving and can now drive freely. My dosage of medication during the May 3rd campaign has almost come to zero. In my relationship, my partner and I have been able to change poison into medicine and I am happy to report that we now share a very healthy bond as comrade and friends. Most important of all, I have regained my confidence and feel a lot more hopeful when I look at the road ahead of me. </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c633026a-e0d4-2543-db23-cc07252164ef"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eternally grateful to my mentor and those who supported me, I determine to contribute maximum youth from our GA in BSG s target of 1 BSG of 100 ,000 youth n repay my debt of gratitude to Sensei. I vow to always value my life and use my entire life for Kosen Rufu and work on behalf of my mentor. </span></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-29751220306769232122015-07-19T04:41:00.002-07:002015-07-19T04:41:39.598-07:00Watch Warning Signs - Why your prayers may not be getting answered? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"Some of you may think in frustration, "Members all over the world are receiving wonderful benefits from the Gohonzon. I read amazing experiences in the Soka Gakkai publications. Then why isn't my prayer getting answered?" Don't worry. If you rectify your attitude, benefits will begin to come your way.<br /><br />Suppose you have an accident and escape with only a slight injury. You may say, rejoicing, "Because I practice Buddhism, I was able to avoid a disaster," and be contented with that fact. This is too easy going an attitude in faith. Of course, it is only natural and proper to feel gratitude to the Gohonzon that you were protected. But there are times when you must take such a mishap, though minor, as a warning from the Gohonzon to the effect that "You have the destiny to encounter accidents of this kind, so be careful. Strengthen your faith even more so you can change poison into medicine." A slight misfortune is often a precursor of a catastrophe. Take the Gohonzon's warning seriously, and reawaken your faith.<br /><br />While not every illness or accident necessarily means that something is wrong with your faith, it is wise to use such occasions to reexamine your practice, improve or correct it where necessary and further strengthen your faith.<br /><br />Some time ago a woman came to see me for guidance about her husband's sickness. She said that when her husband had a chest X-ray taken, it showed a shadow indicating some cause for concern. He did not practice sincerely at that time, but because of this warning he started practicing more seriously. He reflected on and changed his attitude toward practice. Some time later when he again had a chest X-ray taken, there was no shadow at all, must to the doctor's surprise.<br /><br />The shadow in the X-ray was like an alarm clock which warns you when you are not sincere in faith. But once you are awakened, it ceases to ring and its existence becomes unnecessary. Nichiren Daishonin says in the Gosho that illness can be an opportunity to grow in faith. He states, "Your husbands' disease may well be the merciful consideration of the Buddha. A mishap can be a warning which says, "There is something you need to understand. Strengthen your faith so you can find out what it is." At that time it is important for you to correct your attitude wherever necessary and resolve anew to develop your faith. So long as you keep your "eyes of faith" wide open, you will eventually be able to solve your problem, changing it into an impetus for your growth."<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Source: Guidelines of Faith by Satoru Izumi</span></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-42428971008787474922015-07-13T09:07:00.001-07:002015-07-13T09:07:18.353-07:00Sensei's Guidance on Getting Good Sleep <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>Excerpt from the book "Discussions on health" by Daisaku Ikeda:</i><br /><br />Ways to get a sound sleep at night<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Establish and maintain a daily rhythm - go to bed at the same time every night and get up at hte same time every morning</li><li>Sit in the sun or take a morning walk</li><li>Take an afternoon nap</li><li>A lukewarm bath can also be helpful in promoting sleep</li><li>Avoid drinking large quantities of caffeine containing beverages like coffee</li><li>Listen to some soft, soothing music</li></ul><div>He says, "Sleep is an activity where we fuse our lives with the universe and recharge ourselves with that vast life force. That's why it is important to stay in tune with the rhythm of life and the universe.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Sleep appears to be a world of stillness and repose. But life itself never rests; it is continually active. We can't expect to be able to sleep soundly without realising the imortance sleep has in our life as a whole. The real secret to healthy sleep is what we do during the day. Has that day been a satisfying and fulfilling one, mentally and physically? In turn, a night's healthy sleep contributes to our healthy activity the following day. As someone said, "Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."</div><div><br /></div><br />"Weariness is the best pillow," he quotes Benjamin Franklin<br /><br /><i>- Discussions on health by Daisaku Ikeda</i><br /><br />Thoughts - Health is a topic I am very passionate about, making this work of Sensei very important to me. Guidance on health based on True Buddhism! It has Sensei in conversation with Soka Gakkai's Doctor and Nurses Division members where they discuss about various topics such as obesity, stress, back pain, children's health, heart disease and many more. You can purchase it online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.eternalganges.com/books/discussions/eternal-ganges/discussions-health/9788190719155/" target="_blank">Eternal Ganges</a>.&nbsp;</div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-7331624943900221882015-07-12T04:02:00.000-07:002015-07-12T04:02:30.616-07:00It is The Heart That is Important<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">President Ikeda's Guidance:<br /><br />"It is the heart that is important", writes the Daishonin.<br /><br />When we do something, do we approach it with a negative attitude - grumbling, "Oh, not again! I hate this!" - or a positive attitude - telling ourselves brightly, "All right, here's a fresh opportunity to gain good fortune!"?<br /><br />This seemingly small, subtle difference n attitude can make a huge difference in our lives. It can change things 180 degrees. This is what the Lotus Sutra and the doctrine of "three thousand realms in a single moment of life" teach us.<br /><br />The heart is invisible, and Buddhism provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing that invisible heart. It represents the highest form of psychology, neuroscience, and psychotherapy.<br /><br />Appreciation and joy multiply our good fortune. Complaint and negativity erase it.<br /><br />We often find that those who live in the city yearn for country life, while those who live in the country long for city life, or that those who are single dream of being married, while those who are married wish they were single again. That is a common tendency of the human heart.<br /><br />But happiness doesn't life somewhere far away. It is something we must achieve for ourselves through our present struggles in the here and now.<br /><br />When we have a positive and appreciative attitude toward our communities, it will give greater confidence and impetus to our activities. The joy of kosen-rufu will spread.<br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-2548254612315410942015-07-11T22:25:00.000-07:002015-07-11T22:25:00.483-07:00If You Have Time to Brood, You Have Time to Chant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The Gosho teaches that benefits come from chanting daimoku. Nowhere does it say that you can obtain benefits by complaining, even if you do so a million times.<br /><br />Some of you may be worried because of your mates, children or parents. But so long as you merely complain about them, you will not be able to solve your problem. Instead, resolve to turn your anxiety into an impetus for changing your karma, into a springboard for attaining enlightenment - in other words, into a good influence. Then muster your power of faith and practice, and chant and chant until you have solved your problem. Only your faith in the Gohonzon can enable you to do this.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">- Guidance, Why is Faith Necessary Vol I, World Tribune Press</span><br /><br />Thoughts - I love how this guidance instructs one to chant instead of simply complain. I remember this one funny guidance a senior gave saying 'instead of opening the bottle in the evening, open your butsudan.'<br />It then says to 'muster' your power of faith....Meaning, its not going to come out freely from your life like free-flowing salt when you are low. You will have to drag/coax/nudge/cajole it out..like taking out those last drops of that thick tomato ketchup.<br />Don't you have to do that? When you are low? So hard to open that butsudan no? But if you <b>muster</b>&nbsp;your power of faith at that time and chant for even five minutes at that time, you have won in that moment and changed a part of your karma at that moment.<br /><br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-89210011513832728662015-07-10T22:11:00.001-07:002015-07-10T22:11:52.923-07:00What You Fear May Not Even Exist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">When a timorous person sees a dead tree at night, he takes it for a ghost and is frightened out of his wits. His fearfulness has made him err in discerning the true identity of what he saw. It is he himself who was petrified with terror, and it is his own timidity which caused that fear. Since he is both victim and assailant, <b>it is no use suing the tree.&nbsp;</b><br /><br />Some members are easily swayed by their environments. This is because their faith is not strong enough for them to recognise devilish functions for what they are.<br /><br /><i>We should view our immediate situation in terms of our fundamental purpose in life, and not the other way round. </i>(See:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bsgexperience.com/search?q=mission" target="_blank">Guidances on Mission</a>)<br /><br />The true benefits of faith do not become apparent right-away. Even a person bent with age was once a baby. He didn't become old and gray overnight. Probably he saw no particular change in himself from one day to the next. As the years pass, however, a baby grows up and finally becomes an aged person. Similarly the benefits of faith grow in a gradual way. <b>As long as you continue to practice, you are accumulating great good fortune, even though you may not be able to recognise it from a short-range viewpoint.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">- Guidance, Why is Faith Necessary Vol I, World Tribune Press</span></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-76515534273653400882015-07-09T09:38:00.000-07:002015-07-09T09:38:29.489-07:00Don't Forget this Marvelous Gohonzon You Have<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Pavlov, the famous psychologist, said that, "Talent can be acquired and nurtured through effort. It is important to make consistent effort at your own pace. If you were not born blessed with talent or ability, you had best create it yourself with correct practice and training." Rather than lamenting over our lack of power and experience, or worrying that something is outside the realm of our capability, we should apply ourselves and challenge the task at hand. We can then develop our capability and product great results.<br />In volume ten of the novel The Human Revolution, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda writes,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Anyone would think that victory is impossible, and that's probably how you feel right now. But don't forget this&nbsp;marvellous&nbsp;Gohonzon we have. It has the power to transform what you'd normally think impossible&nbsp;into something possible. Those who give up before they try, thinking that it's impossible, don't really know the power of the Mystic Law. Only people who can bring forth the Mystic Law's power can succeed at anything they try.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">We have to first of all pray powerfully to be able to carry out the kind of courageous practice that can make the impossible possible.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">- Guidance, Why is Faith Necessary Vol I, World Tribune Press</span></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-31149330464058887882015-07-08T07:46:00.001-07:002015-07-08T07:46:35.955-07:00Sensei's Guidance on Reading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Question (by a young adult): <i>Even when I set out to read a book, I get bored in a minute. I always give up halfway through..</i><div><i>What is the secret to learning how to read without getting bored.&nbsp;</i></div><div>Sensei says, "As for your question, let me say this: why not begin by reading a book on a topic that interests you?&nbsp;</div><div>Go ahead and read something that deals with a topic that you are concerned about.&nbsp;</div><div>Beyond that, make up your mind to plough steadily through works you know you must read, even if you dislike doing so &nbsp;- text books for example.&nbsp;</div><div>Even if you think the task at hand is difficult, or even if you should find the book hard to understand, never mind, go ahead and finish reading it.&nbsp;</div><div>Whenever you manage somehow to read a whole volume, you'll gain a sense of fulfillment from having completed it. And out of that satisfaction will come the desire to read still another book.&nbsp;</div><div>The point is that you must first of all complete one book on a topic that interests you. Your success in finishing will give you a sense of satisfaction and a taste of the joy of reading. You will not be able to stick to your plan unless you do experience such a sense of fulfillment and joy.&nbsp;</div><div>As long as you keep a distance, printed words are especially difficult to become 'chummy' with. On the other hand, words in print have the characteristic that their 'foreignness' disappears when you get used to dealing with them. Then they become surprisingly good friends. But of course you have to make some effort to develop to that point. I would like you to take it as a challenge to do so and by all means, I hope you will not accept your present attitude as the last word.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Source: Advice to Young People, written by Dr. Daisaku Ikeda</div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-27729081418103331862015-07-04T21:35:00.001-07:002015-07-04T21:37:05.094-07:00The 3 Step Process to Overcome a Problem<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The fact that we believe in the Gohonzon does not mean that we will be exempt from problems. When a problem arises, however, if we do not give in to doubt but instead chant daimoku seriously to the Gohonzon with the conviction that "through this, I can deepen my faith," we can definitely overcome it. Even beyond that, we will find ourselves better off than before the problem arose. This is the benefit of 'changing poison into medicine.'<br /><br />- Guidance, Why is Faith Necessary Vol I, World Tribune Press<br /><br />Thoughts - How encouraging. When I look at a situation from this perspective, I can't help but have more hope.&nbsp;</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For eg, a new situation at work has you in a fix. It may initially depress you. You may feel lethargic, resentful, and low. If at that point, you realise that through this situation the Gohonzon is trying to teach you something, you go from resentful-mode into learning-mode.&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The action required from us becomes as foll:&nbsp;</span></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chant to understand what is it that I am supposed to learn from this scenario</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pray to change that part of my karma that is holding me back in it</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do my best in that situation, cheerfully</span></li></ol></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />After applying this 'formula', the sooner something changes in your thought process, the sooner your environment will change. I love&nbsp;<a href="http://chantforhappiness.blogspot.in/2015/05/gurpreets-experience.html" target="_blank">Gurpreet's experience</a>&nbsp;in Jamie's lovely blog -<b> it clearly shows that the realization you have after chanting a lot of daimoku can, infact, change the entire environment because you have learnt what you had to from that situation.&nbsp;</b></span></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-67924048726636941852015-07-03T07:47:00.000-07:002015-07-03T07:47:25.075-07:00Align Personal Goals with Kosen-rufu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Gosho: On Prolonging Life<br /><br />Kosen-rufu, the widespread propagation of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, is the process by which we enable one person after another to awaken to the priceless jewel of Buddhahood within his or her life by teaching each one to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. A commitment to this lofty goal opens your life to a degree of good fortune and satisfaction that someone bound by purely egotistical concerns could never experience. I am convinced that when you live your life on the basis of a deep desire to contribute to kosen-rufu, you can change any immutable karma, no matter how stubborn it may be. But without a real determination to strive for kosen-rufu, you cannot change it substantially. Juse mouthing your determination has no place in Buddhist practice - you must work to materialize it through your actions adn cherish it in your heart, or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bsgexperience.com/2013/06/guidance-on-ichinen-and-prayer.html" target="_blank">ichinen</a>.<br /><br />When are firmly resolved that, no matter what, you must live to fulfill your mission for kosen-rufu, then you can summon the life-force to conquer illness and prolong your life. In a sense, the least we can do for kosen-rufu is to live long. Moreover, we must be healthy if we are to fulfill our mission. This means that being healthy is our responsibility. We cannot afford to flirt with illness, so to speak. As President Toda once said, we may become ill occasionally, but we should never allow our illness to defeat us in our determination to attain enlightenment and to propagate the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI</span><br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-6876787788983304582015-07-02T09:51:00.002-07:002015-07-02T09:51:40.935-07:00The Only Practice that Celebrates You being 'You'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Gosho: The Swords of Good and Evil<br /><br />"Cherry, peach, plum and damson blossoms all have their own qualities, and they manifest the three properties of the life of the originzal Buddha without changing their own character." In other words, you do not have to give up your own identity; you attain Buddhahood "as you are." The Buddhist principle of "attaining Buddhahood in one's present form" means that, based upon faith in the Mystic Law, all your individual qualities, whatever they may be, will definitely serve a purpose for kosen-rufu.<br />Take the case of someone who is extremely hot-tempered and always losing jobs and alienating his family and friends because of his violent outbursts. No matter how sincerely such a man may chant daimoku, chances are that he will never become cool and unemotional; it is not his nature. But instead, his hot temper will begin to express itself in an enlightened way, perhaps as a great passion for justice. In other words, the very same trait that used to cause him so much pain and trouble will begin working to benefit both himself and others. And this holds true with every single person.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI</span></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-82661475639668989172015-07-01T06:44:00.000-07:002015-07-01T06:44:22.491-07:00What to do when everything sucks? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Gosho: The difficulty of sustaining faith<br /><br />'When you are experiencing the worst possible situation and feel that you can't possibly go on any longer, remember that this is the very time when you can change your destiny. I know it is far from easy to keep this in mind at a crucial moment. That is one reason why we have an organization, to encourage one another.<br /><b>In any event, chant until you feel that your daimoku has reached the very roots of your suffering.</b><br />The reaction, "Why do I still have these problems even though I've been practicing so sincerely?" may be a natural one, but if you give in to it, you are being swayed by the fundamental darkness. If you instead resolve to practice all the more earnestly in order to overcome your problems, then you can not only open a path to their solution but further deepen your faith. This is in accord with the Buddhist principles that the sufferings of birth and death can be transformed into nirvana and that poison can be changed into medicine.'<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI</span></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-37400557597101702842015-06-30T10:00:00.003-07:002015-06-30T10:00:41.354-07:00How to Fulfil Your Wishes - A Special Way to Pray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Experience from the New Human Revolution Volume 22</b><br /><br />A year earlier when Hasebe was visiting Japan, he conferred with Shin'ichi about whether he should try to buy a house in France. Smiling, Shin'ichi said: "That must mean that your paintings are selling well enough that you can afford a house."<br /><br />"No," deferred Hasebe, "I'm just thinking about what I should be aiming for in the future."<br />Shin'ichi responded: "Instead of putting it off into the future, you should have the attitude that you're going to buy it right now. I think you should purchase a house. To be accepted by French society (which is where Hasebe now lived), it's important for you to have a house, put down roots in your community, and win people's trust. The thing to do is to firmly decide that you're going to buy a house and then chant hard to make that a reality. That said, if your only motivation is that you simply want a house, it might take a long time for your prayer to be answered."<br /><br />Somewhat taken aback, Hasebe asked: "Is there a special way I should pray?"<br /><br />"Yes," replied Shin'ichi. "You should make a pledge to carry out kosen-rufu for the sake of the happiness and prosperity of the people of France, and chant wholeheartedly for that. For example, you can pray, 'I will dedicate my life to achieving kosen-rufu in France. Therefore, I need a hhouse so that I may gain trust in the community and be able to provide members with a place to meet. Please give me a nice, big house for that purpose.'<br /><br />"Daimoku based on a vow and wish to achieve kosen-rufu by showing people the way to attain absolute happiness is the same type of daimoku chanted by all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Earth. When you pray like this, the Buddha nature within your own life will open up and raise your life-condition to such a degree that you can even move the universe. When that happens, you will be able to realise your wish to buy a house without fail.<br /><br />'On the other hand, if you're just praying for a big, fancy house because you want one for yourself, your life-state won't expand much, and it may take a long time for you to see your wish fulfiled. For us, the foundation of prayer is always kosen-rufu. And daimoku that originates in the determination to contribute to kosen-rufu produces immeasurable and unlimited benefits.<br />Making a pledge for kosen-rufu leads to a fulfilment of all one's wishes</div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-19050613865963759032015-06-29T09:42:00.000-07:002015-06-29T09:42:13.066-07:00Polish your mirror night and day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Gosho: On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime</span><br /><br />"Even a tarnished mirror will shine like a jewel if it is polished. A mind which presently is clouded by illusions originating from the innate darkness of life is like a tarnished mirror, but once it is polished it will become clear, reflecting the enlightenment of immutable truth. Arouse deep faith and polish your mirror night and day. How should you polish it? Only by chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."<br /><br />The innate darkness of life is the fundamental source of human suffering. It gives rise to all deluded workings of the mind, such as greed, anger, stupidity, arrogance, doubt and false views. The Daishonin compares it here to tarnish on a mirror. When a mirror is tarnished, its images will be blurred and distorted, so that one cannot see an accurate reflection in it at all. Similarly, the "innate darkness" clouds our life and prevents us from seeing that we are entities of the Mystic Law. By chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we are, so to speak, "polishing" the mirror of our life, allowing our pure Buddha nature to shine forth.<br />At the very moment of chanting daimoku with faith in the Gohonzon, we activate our buddha nature. But polishing takes some effort. In other words, we need to continue chanting daimoku throughout life to make Buddhahood our basic life-condition. From day to day &nbsp;we may not always be able to see the results of this effort clearly, but we can be confident that, over the months and years, we are gradually establishing the joyous and indestructive state of Buddhahood, as our basic condition.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Source: George M Williams, Vice President SGI</span></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-9251232837768223542015-06-28T00:05:00.000-07:002015-06-28T00:05:05.973-07:00The Osaka Campaign - Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"On one occasion a junior high school girl attended a women's division district leaders' meeting with her mother.<br />When President Ikeda came to the meeting, he said, "Kansai has a very cute district leader, doesn't it?" The junior high school girl raised her hand and aid, "I accompanied my mother today. I'd like to ask your advice on something."<br />Her mother seemed to be very surprised. "My mother is working hard both at work and in Gakkai activities. For this reason, I am helping her with the housework. After school, I go to the market with the moeny she gives me. My mother works too hard, so I'll quit school and work with her. In addition, I want to do my best for Gakkai activities," said the young girl.<br />President Ikeda listened intently to the girl and then responded: "I don't like people who don't go to school. I dislike a person who doesn't study. Now is the time when you should help your mother and go to school as much as you can. You should study while helping your mother." Touched by his all-enveloping warm heart, the girl determined to overcome whatever hardships she might face.<br />- Osaka campaign, value creation, Feb 2007<br /><br />While this guidance may have been given to a young student going through trying times, I believe Sensei would have given guidance in a similar vein to anyone trying to juggle multiple responsibilities. Sensei advices the girl to continue to help her mother and do her best in Gakkai acivities without sacrificing her studies...I can't help the girl was hoping Sensei would tell her to let go of one thing atleast thus making her life that much easier :) Letting go of her studies to help her mother would have no doubt seemed like an honorable thing to do, but would have eventually been detrimental to her personal growth in the future. In one way, Sensei is encouraging the girl to not give up. Though hard to follow, this guidance is a very potent one. It basically is a short cut to polishing one's character and becoming a first -rate human being.&nbsp;</div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-66684238403679937272015-06-27T00:17:00.003-07:002015-07-01T21:50:00.112-07:00The Osaka Campaign - Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Ikeda Sensei: Let's carry out a fight without any regrets. Let's do our best together. This is going to be the first historic struggle in Kansai. If you 'cut short your sleep' then you have engaged in the struggle seriously.<br />The benefit we recieve in our daily practise to the Gohonzon is tremendous. Why don't we do in one day the work of a week or even ten days, dedicating our lives to the Gohonzon.<br />- Osaka campaign value creation Feb 2007<br /><br />When was the last time I sacrificed an hour of sleep to watch a movie?<br />Yesterday<br />When was the last time I sacrificed an hour of sleep to be able to catch an early morning flight/train? &nbsp;Recently.<br />When was the last time I sacrificed an hour of sleep crying because I was really sad?<br />This year itself.<br /><i>When was the last time I sacrificed an hour of sleep to chant an extra hour of daimoku?&nbsp;</i><br /><i>...............</i><br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-29565290242662141252015-06-25T10:50:00.001-07:002015-06-25T10:50:34.037-07:00The Osaka Campaign - Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"In order to achieve victory, two things are vital: "strong daimoku" and "first-rate strategy and action."<br />... the "first rate strategy" was clearly shown in President Ikeda's behavior and in his 'Early Morning Gosho Lectures.' Simply put, the "first rate strategy is to be in complete rhythm with Sensei.<br />... The directions given by President Ikeda during the morning Gosho lecture was in-fact the "best strategy."<br /><i>- Osaka campaign Value creation Jan 2007</i><br />I have come across this guidance each time while re-reading the Osaka campaign. While I kind of understood 'strong daimoku,' I could never wrap my head around 'first rate strategy and action.' What did it mean, I wondered. If I knew what the best strategy was, wouldn't I have already gone ahead and executed it? If it was so simple to take a certain action, would I not have already...well, taken that action? <br />The passage excerpt above explained what these terms mean at the most fundamental level for us as practitioners of Nichiren Daishonin's buddhism. 'First rate strategy &amp; action' mean being one with out mentor. To strive each day to chant to be in same mind as him. To read the New Human revolution series to understand Sensei at a deeper level and learn how he lives and behaves in daily life.<br />Mentor disciple is a very difficult concept to understand..but striving to understand it is in fact a part of adopting first rate strategy and action. When we begin to understand our mentor, a lot of big words like 'kosen-rufu,' and 'bodhisattva of the earth,' will start to make that much more sense and our life will start expanding tremendously. So towards July 3rd, which is celebrated as Mentor Disciple day, let's try and chant this day onwards to connect with Sensei. It may not come naturally to you in the beginning and that's ok. The important thing is to have the ichinen to begin to understand Sensei's significance in our lives at some point and be able to follow him truly. Then we will truly be like a 'blue fly clinging to a thorough bred horse.' (will not explain that here...thats another post.)<br />You can read more about the mentor and disciple concept&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sgi.org/buddhism/buddhist-concepts/the-oneness-of-mentor-and-disciple.html" target="_blank">here</a><br /><br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-21181498321937165422015-06-23T22:27:00.004-07:002015-06-23T22:27:44.409-07:00Food Analogy for Unity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"Osaka is famous for its awa-okoshi or millet cake. One day, we enjoyed a wonderful conversation with President Ikeda while eating awa-okoshi with him. Afterwards, Sensei said, "Now that you have eaten millet cakes, you can become united, can't you?"<div>"United?" we exclaimed. We Kansai members could not understand what he meant.&nbsp;</div><div>President Ikeda explained, with humour, "Awa-okoshi is made of awa (millet) stiffened with caramelised sugar, isn't it? This is, exactly, a form of unity."</div><div>In this way through daily, close communication with Sensei, the Kansai members learnt the correct attitude of practicing faith.&nbsp;</div><div>- Excerpt from the Osaka campaign&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Unity can be understood and misunderstood easily. It is, at once, a rather simple yet an amazingly difficult concept. The analogy above really helped me gain a deeper insight into what Sensei means when he speaks about unity (and he speaks a lotttt about unity)</div><div>Awa and sugar are two separate entities, with their own individual properties and their own tastes. The stiffening of the millet and the caramelising of the sugar is a beautiful example of how one can be oneself yet unite beautifully with others by bringing one's unique qualities to shine and yet moult oneself to give form to a beautiful dish. If they combine together in their present form, they will probably be at loggerheads with each other and the resulting dish would taste horrible.&nbsp;</div><div>Sensei respects each person's individuality while emphasising the fact that this individuality should be used not to alienate but to unite, by bringing each person's unique abilities to shine and work for the group as a whole - whether its a relationship between husband and wife, between friends, or within the Gakkai.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-1335934171105921402015-06-18T08:38:00.002-07:002015-06-18T08:38:45.267-07:00Clear direction from Sensei<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"Everything has a purpose, a mission. The mission of flowers is to bloom. The mission of the sun is to give off light and warmth The mission of water is to flow, to purify and to nourish life.<br />You and I are Bodhisattvas of the Earth, born into this world to actualise the fundamental mission of kosen-rufu, Failing to do so is like a flower that doesn't bloom or a sun that doesn't shine. In that case, we cannot know true joy or fulfilment.<br />It is of course important to do our best and become foremost employees at our places of work, but we also mustn't forget why we are living - that is, to contribute to others and to society. In short, it is to realize kosen-rufu, an undertaking to eliminate misery from the world and bring happiness and peace to all. Never forgetting our primary purpose, we need to become victors in our workplaces, establish wonderful families and develop ourselves into trusted members of the community and people who are genuinely happy and fulfilled. That is how we demonstrate the power of Buddhism."<br />-Daisaku Ikeda, Value creation May 2015</div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-1104586984903405802015-06-17T08:20:00.001-07:002015-06-17T09:28:46.671-07:00My mission as a bodhisattva of the earth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Till quite recently in my practice, every-time I used to face a personal problem, the guidance I would get from my seniors in faith would revolve around three things -</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Mentor</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Kosen-rufu</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Mission as bodhisattva</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it used to irritate the hell out of me!(still does sometimes...shhh)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Simply because I was looking at this practice as a fix for my problem rather than seeing my problem as a fix for my practice and hence life.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lost me there, didn't you. Don't worry... I lost myself there too. Let me try and explain.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So how I saw this was -</span><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. have a problem?&nbsp;</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. will chant, study, attend meetings, tell others about philosophy ie "kosen-rufu"&nbsp;</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Will overcome problem. Happiness abounds...</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The actual equation and its rationale according to what I have understood:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b>1.<i> have a problem</i>? Good. I asked for this problem aeons ago when I raised up my hand to say "I will contribute to propagating the Law in the latter day of the law by overcoming this problem and showing actual proof that the Law works! So this is actually my mission."</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <i>Will chant, study, attend meetings, tell others about this philosophy </i>while at each moment developing an ichinen to contribute to kosen rufu with my secular actions ie gaining trust at work, establishing unity with my better half, and fostering friendships in my environment, thus living the law 24/7 and not only when I am chanting/attending meetings.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <i>Will overcome problem</i> for Kosen rufu - so that others are encouraged by my experience of not only overcoming the problem and turning poison into medicine but also by my upbeat and encouraging demeanor while I was neck deep in the problem.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tadaaaa! so the answer there is to have mission-oriented faith rather than benefit oriented faith. And don't you worry about benefits. In benefit-oriented faith, what you get is a<i> trickle</i> compared to what you get in a mission-oriented faith ...which is more like a dormant volcano come to life!!!</span><br /><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-68469983222518730262015-06-16T06:21:00.000-07:002015-06-25T23:21:38.024-07:00A small shift in your heart can change everything<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Importance of transforming resentment into compassion, complaints into gratitude.<br /><br />Sensei says "Appreciation and gratitude increase good fortune. Complaint and negativity erase it."<br /><br />I encountered a wonderful experience in the Value Creation magazine of a woman who was "working v hard" and doing everything right, BUT was resenting doing so immensely. She was angry that her work was not being acknowledged and appreciated by the people around her. She kind of reminded me of a bird who charges ahead with all her might but bumps into a window each time. :(<br /><br />It just hit home because I have closely seen people who have technically worked hard in terms of doing their duties, crazy hours of daimoku, and umpteen Gakkai activities. They have got a lot to show for it ofcourse. However, due to some stubborn cause, the relationships in their lives remain unchanged, while the bulk of the work continues to come to them, with no appreciation and people around them making their life only tougher and not easier. While this stubborn cause could very well be karma or mission, it could also have a lot to do with their attitude which had more than a whiff of resentment/arrogance/anger.<br /><br />To transform the tendency to be resentful appears to be very important. otherwise, we too could practice all our lives looking the wrong way.<br /><br />Pray<br /><br />1. to have compassion. This is key. When you bow to the image in the mirror. the image bows back to you. If you hate others, they too will revile you and detest you. You could be doing all the right things, but if your heart is not in the right place, people will respond to that negativity. Pray to transform all resentment into compassion. This is concomitant with Sensei's guidance to pray that all positive, protective forces may enter your life and the lives of those around you as well all members.<br /><br />2. to have Gratitude. When you have gratitude for the things you have, and express gratitude frequently to those who support your life, your good fortune increases manifold. </div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1513102880796215648.post-21892679333118533032015-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:002015-06-17T09:18:30.508-07:00The importance of life force<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sensei says, "If you possess strong life force and abundant wisdom, it is possible to enjoy the challenge of overcoming life's hardships much in the same way that waves make surfing exhilarating and steep mountains give mountaineering its appeal. Because the Mystic Law is the source of the life force and wisdom for overcoming life's difficulties, the Daishonin states that there is no greater happiness than chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo."</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thoughts - If one were to silently contemplate the meaning of the word 'life force,' it may sink in slowly how important this attribute is to our happiness. Life force means the force that gives life its vitality and strength. It may also mean health, both physical and mental. When health is not good, life appears meaningless. Food loses its taste, work loses meaning and recreational activities become passive and tiresome. If mentally one does not feel up to the mark, one feels fatigued, uninspired to do anything, from mundane chores to a once - favorite activity.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thus it is imperative that we activity chant to have great health and life force. Also for wisdom and compassion. </b>Wisdom again can solve a lot many problems that one faces - it allows us to smile, think on our feet, take decisions that are best for our ultimate happiness. Compassion allows us to be kind to ourselves and others and moreover, to chant for people's happiness.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /></div>shivanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02413705423253004607noreply@blogger.com0